Chinese Language Learning Program
Lesson 197 – The difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese
Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese
Language Learning Program. Last time we learned some words for keep promise in
Chinese. Today, we will learn the difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese.
jí
即
Adj. : the same (day, etc.); immediate; at
present; in the immediate future
jí rì
即日 (this very day; immediate;
at present)
běn guī dìng zì jí rì qǐ shí shī.
本 规 定 自即日起 实 施.
(The provision takes effect as from today.)
Adv. : promptly; at once
lì jí
jí kè
立即 (Immediately, at once) 即 刻 (Immediately, promptly)
jí jiāng
即 将 (soon)
wǒ bù néng lì jí
dá fù nǐ de wèn tí.
我 不 能 立即 答 复 你 的 问 题。
(I can not answer your questions immediately.)
wǒ jí kè jiù dào.
我即 刻 就 到。(I will be there in
no time.)
nǐ de zhòng dà shí
kè jí jiāng dào lái.
你 的 重 大 时 刻 即 将 到 来。
(Your big moment is coming.)
Conjunction: even; even if
jí shǐ míng tiān
xià yǔ, wǒ men yě yào jì xù gōng zuò.
即 使 明 天 下 雨，我 们 也 要 继 续 工 作。
(Even if it should rain tomorrow, we will continue our
work.)
jí biàn
即 便 (even if; even though)
rú guǒ wǒ nǔ lì le, jí biàn shì méi yǒu kǎo dì yī, mā mā yě
如 果 我 努力了, 即 便 是 没 有 考 第一, 妈 妈 也
bù huì mán yuàn wǒ de.
不 会 埋 怨 我 的。
(If I tried, even if I did not get the first place, my Mom
will not blame me.)
jì
既
adv. Already
yī yán jì chū, sì mǎ
nán zhuī.
一 言 既 出，驷 马 难 追。
(A word once spoken cannot be overtaken even by a team of
four horses; What is said cannot be unsaid; A promise cannot be taken back once
it is made.)
Conjunction: since ； as ； both ...and ； as well as
jì rán
既 然 (since; as; now
that; in as much)
jì rán nǐ bù xiǎng
tīng, wǒ jiù bù gào sù nǐ le.
既 然 你 不 想 听，我 就 不 告 诉 你了。
(I will not tell you since you do not want to listern.)
jì rán nǐ huí dā
bù chū zhè ge wèn tí, wǒ jiù wèn bié rén
le.
既 然 你 回 答 不 出 这 个 问 题, 我 就 问 别 人 了。
(Since you can't answer the question, I'll ask someone
else. )
Used with “and ” or meaning as “not only….but also….”
tā jì tān lán yòu
zì sī.
她 既 贪 婪 又 自 私。(She is greedy and selfish.)
tā lái de zhèng hǎo, jì bù
zǎo yě bù wǎn.
他 来 的 正 好，既 不 早 也 不 晚。
(He came just at the right time, neither too early nor
too late.)
tā jì yǒu qù yòu cōng míng.
他 既 有 趣 又 聪 明。
(He’s not only funny, but also he’s intelligent.)
Ok, that is all for today.
xiè xiè!
谢 谢 ! (Thanks!)
xià cì jiàn
下 次 见! (See you next time!)
